Gustav von Epstein | |
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Born | |
Died |
Vienna, Austria | 23 September 1879
Gustav Ritter von Epstein (10 April 1828 – 23 September 1879) was an Austrian industrialist and banker who commissioned the Palais Epstein. [1]
Epstein was born on 10 April 1828 in Prague. [2] He was the fourth child of Leopold Epstein, who was the director of the National Bank at the time, [1] and his wife Caroline, who was from a prestigious textile industry family. [2] After Gustav's father died in 1864, be took over his father's banking business. [1] Due to his philanthropy, in 1866, Emperor Franz Joseph bestowed Epstein with the Iron Crown 3rd Class. [1] The next year, Epstein commissioned the architect Otto Wagner to build him a villa in Baden. [3] Most of Gustav's fortune was destroyed in the Panic of 1873, partially due to Adolf Taussig, who had speculated with Epstein's money before committing suicide later that year. [4] In response, Epstein sold his villa to Archduke Rainer Ferdinand a few months later. [3] Epstein died in 1879 in Vienna. [1]
According to contemporary sources, Brigitte Haentjens described him as following:
Tall and slim, with a beard trimmed in the English fashion. He is serious and sensitive, of weak health and always has a very pale complexion. A well-travelled, multilingual man of education and great interest in art, but a man committed to the public. He does not derive his self-confidence from his money, but from the public respect that accrues to him from his offices and numerous honorary functions.
Gustav von Epstein | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | |
Died |
Vienna, Austria | 23 September 1879
Gustav Ritter von Epstein (10 April 1828 – 23 September 1879) was an Austrian industrialist and banker who commissioned the Palais Epstein. [1]
Epstein was born on 10 April 1828 in Prague. [2] He was the fourth child of Leopold Epstein, who was the director of the National Bank at the time, [1] and his wife Caroline, who was from a prestigious textile industry family. [2] After Gustav's father died in 1864, be took over his father's banking business. [1] Due to his philanthropy, in 1866, Emperor Franz Joseph bestowed Epstein with the Iron Crown 3rd Class. [1] The next year, Epstein commissioned the architect Otto Wagner to build him a villa in Baden. [3] Most of Gustav's fortune was destroyed in the Panic of 1873, partially due to Adolf Taussig, who had speculated with Epstein's money before committing suicide later that year. [4] In response, Epstein sold his villa to Archduke Rainer Ferdinand a few months later. [3] Epstein died in 1879 in Vienna. [1]
According to contemporary sources, Brigitte Haentjens described him as following:
Tall and slim, with a beard trimmed in the English fashion. He is serious and sensitive, of weak health and always has a very pale complexion. A well-travelled, multilingual man of education and great interest in art, but a man committed to the public. He does not derive his self-confidence from his money, but from the public respect that accrues to him from his offices and numerous honorary functions.